Cumberland Lodge facts for kids
Cumberland Lodge is a beautiful old house located in Windsor Great Park, which is about 3.5 miles south of Windsor Castle. It was built a long time ago, in the 1600s. Today, this historic house is home to a special charity, also called Cumberland Lodge. This charity hosts meetings and discussions to help people think about important social and ethical issues. The lovely gardens around the house are also very famous and are protected as a place of special historic interest.
A Look Back: The Story of Cumberland Lodge
The house we know as Cumberland Lodge was built in 1650. An army captain named John Byfield built it when parts of Windsor Great Park were sold off. For a while, it was known as Byfield House. Later, it was called New Lodge, or sometimes Windsor Lodge or Ranger Lodge.
After King Charles II returned to the throne, he made the house the official home for the Ranger of Windsor Great Park. This was an important job, always given to someone close to the King or Queen.
Many famous people have lived at the Lodge over the years, including:
- Baptist May, who was the first Ranger to live there.
- Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, a very influential woman in the early 1700s. Her husband, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, a famous general, died there in 1722.
- Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, who was a son of King George II. He lived there from 1746 to 1765.
- Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, a daughter of Queen Victoria. She moved in after her marriage in 1866.
- Lord Fitzalan of Derwent, who was the last Viceroy of Ireland. He lived there until 1947.
In 1936, Cumberland Lodge was used for important meetings. These discussions involved Alexander Hardinge, the King's private secretary, and Stanley Baldwin, who was the Prime Minister. These meetings eventually led to King Edward VIII stepping down from the throne.
The Cumberland Lodge Charity: A Place for Ideas
In 1947, King George VI gave Cumberland Lodge to a new educational charity. The idea for this charity came from Amy Buller. She had written an important book called Darkness over Germany in 1943. This book looked at how certain ideas grew among students in Germany before World War II.
The book made a big impression on many leaders, including Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She invited Amy Buller to discuss how to prevent similar problems in the future. This led to the idea of creating a place where young people and their teachers could meet. They could talk about how their studies and future lives could help build a better society and lasting peace. Amy Buller imagined a place where students could relax and discuss important ethical and social issues outside their regular classes. This dream came true at Cumberland Lodge three years later.
The Queen Mother became the special Patron of this new organisation. It was first called the St Catharine’s Foundation. Later, in 1968, its official name became The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Foundation of St Catharine. In 2005, a new charity, simply called Cumberland Lodge, took over the main work. However, the original charity still exists and holds the rights to the property.
After the Queen Mother passed away in 2002, Her Majesty the Queen became the Patron of the charity in 2003.
Cumberland Lodge Today
Today, Cumberland Lodge is an educational charity that helps people talk openly and debate important topics. Its goal is to help tackle the causes and effects of social division. Many university students come here for workshops and short courses.
The charity's work is supported by individuals and groups who book the facilities for conferences, meetings, and special events. They also receive donations and work with partners.
The building is not usually open for general public tours. However, there are special open days, conferences, and free lectures throughout the year that people can attend.
You might have even seen parts of Cumberland Lodge! Some of its interior and exterior scenes were shown in the 2010 film The King's Speech.
